Concentrator and amalgamator.



W. M. NESBIT & E. PIKE. GONGENTR-ATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11

W. M. NESBIT & E. PIKE. GONCENTRATOR AND AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1.909.

Patented Apr. 11,1911.

2 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

Wl TNE SSE S ATTORNEYS THE Nomzrs Pza-rens co., wAsHlNcrnu, a c.

WATSON MARSHALL NESBT AND EDWARD PIKE, OF EUREKA, UTAH.

CONCENTRATOR AND AMALG-AIVIATOR.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 131, 1911.

Application filed August 24, 1909. Serial No. 514,361.

and EDWARD PIKE, citizens of the United States, and both residents ofEureka, in the county of J uab and State of Utah, have invented a newand Improved Concentrator and Amalgamator, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to concentrators and amalgamators, and relatesmore particularly to a device of this class comprising a sluice boxhaving transverse rililes arranged upon and above the bot-tom of the boxso that the pulp and other material flowing through the box is forced topass over and under these respective riilles, the box being providedwith quicksilver pockets under the last-mentioned ritlles, and beingpreferably provided With longitudinal ritlles or amalgamat-ing plates,as Well as with suitable electrical, connections for eleotrolyticreduction.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable andinexpensive concentrator and amalgamator, by means of which the smallparticles of precious metals, of the kind known, for example, as flourgold and flour quicksilver can be easily and expeditiously recoveredfrom the pulp, tailings, sand, or other material, as Well as metal suchas coarse or float gold; Which can be used as a concentrator formaterials of different kinds, and which is adapted for the use ofelectricity as an aid in the recovery of Jthe metals.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter, and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis speciiication, in Which similar characters of reference indicatecoresponding parts in all the views, and in Which-` Figure l is alongitudinal section of an embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is apla-n View of the device; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the device showingcertain of the parts removed and replaced by other parts; and Fig. is atransverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. si.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of our invention, itshould be clearly understood that While the device is peculiarly adaptedfor the recovery of line gold from pulp or tailings, in certain miningoperations, it can also be used for concenv trating operations and forthe recovery of certain other metals. Ve prefer to employ transverseriflies. so arranged that the pulp or other material passing through thesluice box is forced to flow under and over the adjacent rilfles,alternately. In this Way the material is forced into contact With thequicksilver or mercury arranged in pockets vprovided therefor, so thatthe precious metals are amalgamated with the quicksilver and therebyWithdrawn from the Waste material. At the same time, the rifllespreferably constitute amalgamating plates, that is, copper plates coatedWith a suitable amalgamating material. lf so desired, the sides of thesluice box can also be provided with amalgamating plates, to assistinthe recovery of the material. The longitudinal rifies consist of theusual amalgamating plates.

It is Well-known that when amalgamating plates are used for collectinggold, silver and the like, from their crude ores, the surfaces of theseplates are liable to become tarnished or sickened by certain substancescontained in the ores or in the current of Water which is employed tocarry the pulp over the pla-tes, and that in this condition they areuntted for amalgamating the particles of gold, silver, etc. To preventthis, and to keep the surfaces of the amalgamating plates dry and insuitable condition for collecting and amalgamating the particles of theprecious metals, electric currents are employed. the Water of the pulpconstituting part of the conducting circuit and suitable electricalconnect-ions being provided for the purpose.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, We provide a sluice box orcasing l0, fashioned from any suitable material and preferably lined atthe sides and bottom with amalgamat-ing sheets or plates ll. The sluicebox has a head 12 at which the pulp or other material is introduced, andis provided at the bottom With recesses or pockets 13 suitably spacedapart and adapted for the receptionof Quicksilver. The tail end of thesluice box has an outlet opening la through which the pulp finallyescapes.

le provide transverse riiiles 15 preferably constituting amalgamatingplates and extending across the sluice box at suitable intervals, beingpositioned against supporting or bracing cleats 1G secured at the sidesof the box. The ritlies 15 are adjustable vertically, and for thispurpose are each provided with a plurality of recesses 17 adapted toreceive supporting pins or studs 1S in the sides of the box. Theseritiles 1.5 are arranged above and adjacent to the recesses or pockets13, so that the material is forced to flow under the ri'lies anddirectly over the pockets and into contact with the mercury therein.

Below the ends of the pocketsl toward which the material flows throughthe sluice box, is arrang-ed a stop ril'le 19 preferably constituting anamalgamating plate, and extending only part way to the top of thesluice, so that the material is forced to flow over the stop. Cleats 20are secured at the inside of the pockets and serve to hold the stopriifle in place. Further pivoted cleats 21 coperate with the cleats 20for a like purpose, as is shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. Thepivoted cleats can be swung aside to permit the insertion and removal ofthe stop riifle.

lVhenemployed in connection with our device, longitudinal ri'lTles orconcentrating' plates Q2, which are preferably of the usual form, arearranged in sets between each pair of adjacent riflies 15. Supports 23consisting` for example, of metal rods, each having one end bent to forman eye 24, are arranged in openings 25 of the side walls of the sluicebox and extend across the same. These supports serve to carry the riftleplates 22 which are provided with openings for the purpose. The plates22 are spaced from one another and from the sides of the sluice box, bymeans of suitable formed spacing members 26 mounted upon the supports.The plates 22 of course assist in the usual manner in collecting theprecious metals from the pulp, being provided with amalgamatingsurfaces. We also provide concentrating riff-les 27 mounted at suitablepoints of the sluice box by means of lugs 28 which fit removably in eyesor brackets 29 arranged to rest upon the bottom of the sluice box, as isshown most clearly in Fig. 5. The concentrating rifiies are soproportioned that the side edges thereof are spaced from the sides ofthe box, so that the pulp is forced to pass at the sides of theconcentrating ri'liles. The action of these riffles is to cause theheavier particles in the pulp to accumulate in front of them, while thelighter particles or waste pass off at the sides.

When it is desired to remove the concentrates, the riflies can be easilyunhooked from the bottom of the box and a stream of water can then beemployed to wash the concentrates out of the box and into the collectingreceptacle or the like. If so desired the riies 15, as well as therifiles 19, can be dispensed with when the device is being used box andone of the quicksilver baths in its pocket 13, a suitable conductor 32being introduced into the bath to lead the current to this point. One ofthe conductors 31 and 32 preferably, also passes through the eyes 2i ofthe supports 23.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a sluice box havingtransverse riflies arranged upon the bottom of said box, and transverseriiiles arranged above the bottom of said box, whereby material passingthrough said box is forced to fiow over and under said riffles,respectively, and amalgamat-ing plates positioned above saidfirstmentioned riifles and between said last-mentioned riftles.

2. A device of the class described, coinprising a sluice box havingtransverse riflies arranged upon the bottom of said box, and transverseriffles arranged above the bottom of said box, whereby material passingthrough said box is forced to flow over and under said riiiies,respectively, and amalgamating plates positioned above said .firstmentioned riflies and between said last-mentioned riffles, said sluicebox having in 4the bottom thereof, quicksilver pockets arranged adjacentto said first-mentioned riflies and under said amalgamating plates.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a sluice box having thesides and bottom lined with concentrating plates, the bottom of said boxbeing provided with recesses constituting pockets for quicksilver,transverse riffles spaced above said pockets, stop riffles upon thebottom of said box and extending` partly to the top thereof,longitudinal riflies, said rii'ies constituting amalgamating plates, anda concentrating rifHe spaced from the sides of said box.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WATSON MARSHALL Nilsen'. EDWARD PIKE. ,l

Vitnesses D. B. CRONIN, DAN MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

